Ok, so you’ve chosen a college- congrats! Now, it’s time to prepare for life in your new home. From what dorm you want to live in, to whether or not you should bring your car, there is much to consider about how you will go into freshman year. Arguably one of the most important factors of them all- who are you going to room with? The search to find a roommate is something almost all college students are faced with. It can be exciting meeting new people from places across the country, but it can also be stressful. So, what are some of the best ways to find a roommate and what things should you consider?
How to meet new people:
This app has become an increasingly useful tool in terms of meeting people at your college. From following the same sports accounts, to mutual friends, Instagram makes life easier when it comes to making new friends. Regardless of where you go, there will almost always be some accounts on instagram meant specifically for incoming freshmen. These accounts, usually titled something like, (YourCollege)2029 or Classof’29, are meant for getting your socials out there for the purpose of finding a roommate, suitemates, or just to meet new people. On these accounts, people will send in pictures of themselves, and a short bio including their name, where they’re from, and their interests. In all honesty, these posts are very much identical to each other, as it seems almost every girl likes to shop, tan, and go out but also stay in! Although they may be hard to tell apart, there are usually a few differences that stand out.
While this approach has become more outdated due to the prevalence of Instagram use in the younger generation, if you don’t have instagram or would prefer another option, this is a great alternative. Similarly to Instagram, Facebook has groups that users can join to make friends. Making a profile is another important, including a profile picture and a bio that talks about your interests, major and preferred living arrangements. Some people may be wary about giving too much detail, but it really is a good idea to be as honest and specific as you can, so that you end up with someone you truly get along with.
Other applications
There are millions of apps out there, some that are specifically for incoming freshmen looking for roommates. Apps like ZeeMee, Roomi, and MeetYourClass are just a few examples of the many available websites. On these apps, students can join their university’s community chat, and talk with other students in groups or individually. These apps make you set up a profile including a picture of yourself and a bio that encourages you to state your major and living preferences, along with prompting you with a variety of activities you can choose to include. (More about what to look for specifically later in the article.) Snapchat is also another app people use to find students from their college. Although there isn’t really a profile or bio aspect, there are university classes on Snapchat that people can join, connecting them with others in the community. Additionally, people may make group chats on Snapchat, which if anything just helps you stay involved with your class. There may also be a place to search for roommates included in the housing application for your college. After filling out a short survey with your living preferences, some places will give you the chance to see what other people matched with you based on percent of similarity or other filters.
Things to consider:
Unless you live in the same place as your roommate, or have plenty of time to get to know them before you go to college together, it is almost impossible to know for sure how you will get along. With that being said, there are many different things to consider before agreeing to room with someone. Although it’s hard to ask a million questions, it is important to be honest about your tendencies and habits, ensuring that you don’t encounter any major problems with your roomie.
- Morning or night person
This is a big one, as you may not want to be coming home late waking up your roommate who goes to bed at 9, or vice versa. If you do not like to wake up early in the morning, it would be important to communicate this with your potential roommate who may prefer earlier classes.
2. Introverted or extroverted
Although similar to the first consideration, this extends further than a preference for going out or staying in. This can also determine whether or not your roommate would be okay with having guests in your dorm. If you aren’t comfortable with your roommate having a boyfriend/girlfriend staying overnight, or just inviting random people into your space, this would be something to mention. It is also polite to ask your roommate if they would be comfortable with you having a significant other in their space to avoid confrontation about this topic when it’s too late.
3. Tidiness
While this seems obvious, it is important to clarify whether you’re more type A or B. Even if you don’t mind a little mess, your potential roommate might have a raging OCD. If this is the case, it is probably better to know about it before you go emptying your entire closet onto the floor.
4. Smoking
One important consideration that may be overlooked is whether or not your potential roommate is a smoker. This question comes up in roommate surveys online, and is important to take into account especially if you are someone who cannot stand the smell of smoke/ trying to stay away from it.
5. Music taste
This is a big one. Be honest about your music preferences. If you’re not a big Swiftie, communicate this with people you are talking to so you don’t have to endure hours of The Tortured Poets Department blasting on repeat.
6. Sharing items
Whether it’s clothes, space, or other personal items, communicate with your future neighbor about your opinions on sharing your stuff. If you don’t like people borrowing your things, it may be in your best interest to find a roommate who has a similar mindset.
7. Dorm style
If you aren’t a stickler on style or decoration, this may not be as much of an issue. However, if you care about a good color scheme, this would be a good thing to mention before choosing your co-interior designer. Making sure you have similar taste in color/ dorm style is important to determine before rooming with someone to ensure your room is well organized and doesn’t clash.
8. Religion
If you are a very religiously involved person, you may want to communicate with your roommate that you will be attending church early Sunday morning, or if you have to fast for Ramadan. Although it is easy to forget when you are accustomed to your own lifestyle, these habits may be foreign to someone else, so being open about the topic of religion will help you both to be aware of the other’s values and be respectful of each other’s beliefs.
9. Politics
Finally, if you consider yourself to be more of an extremist toward a specific party, you may want to be cognizant of the beliefs of your future roomie. While it is unlikely you will have everything in common with your new friend, stark contrast in morals or political affiliations may lead to conflict, so just be aware of that when choosing someone who you will be spending lots of time with.
If you have already been reaching out to people and are having a hard time finding things in common, not to worry, it may take a few months before you find the perfect one. Advice from senior Elizabeth Hample, who went a good three weeks before finding her roommate, encourages you to “be patient, and don’t beat around the bush,” but instead, “be somewhat forward to see if they match your energy.” This is a great point as above all else you should stick to your truths and be yourself, because there will be someone out there like yourself. Don’t be too discouraged, everything will work out how it is meant to be. Best of luck!
